As our music feature ‘My Life Is Songs’ has been so popular, we’ve decided to extend the concept to our film section. In the first of this new series, with this article Eddie will briefly talk about the films that made the most impact on his life and growing up.
Drive (2011)
Dir: Nicolas Winding Refn
Drive is actually my favourite film of all time, so I thought it made sense for me to start off with it. A remarkable film in it’s own right but what speaks to me about the film is the character of Driver. I relate to him on almost all levels, the feeling of appreciating someones company without really being able to have much more. Not to mention the powerful violence he imprison’s inside himself. Driver is not a man of many words but you can guarantee he’s thinking. Always. Drive was the first time I heard of an ‘artistic’ film, I enjoyed spending time analysing scenes like poetry. Driver’s very simple outfit is also something I stick closely to in everyday clothing (no I don’t have a scorpion jacket).
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWX34ShfcsE?rel=0]
The Lord of The Rings Trilogy (2001-2003)
Dir: Peter Jackson
I mean come on. Winner of 11 Oscars altogether, Lord of the Rings is arguably one of the most impressive movie trilogies of all time and being born in 1997, All through my childhood years and even still to this day I watch it religiously. It’s classic story of good vs evil and everything in between, a story of true friendship and temptation. Lord of the Rings is made even more special to me as my mother was the person who introduced me to it as a child, she gave me the books and I watched it over and over with her. I still do now whenever I’m with her. I love the friendship dynamic between Frodo and Sam plus Legolas being the most badass character in cinema during The Lord of the Rings 3 year lifespan.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JNVtorI3vw?rel=0]
The Thin Red Line (1998)
Dir: Terrance Malik
Probably the most obscure of the films on this list, The Thin Red Line was a film I bought on Xbox Live…I hated it after first viewing, I found it tedious and boring. Second viewing however (which was a couple years later) I loved it. In fact all my major ideologies about life and people come from the very beautiful core of The Thin Red Line. A film set during WWII but focuses on feelings, love, hate, nature and violence. Often reminding me of the year I spent in an African boarding school on my own. I became a much more mature person after fully taking it in. To this day I have still only seen the film twice.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCmlOhsIwBk]
The Place Beyond The Pines (2012)
Dir: Derek Cianfrance
The Place Beyond The Pines is about legacy, decisions and consequences. How a decision can not just haunt you for the rest of your life but if unresolved can effect your children. This was the first film that got me thinking about my future, not in an educational way but in a personal way. Ryan Gosling’s character Luke Glanton is almost a lesson in how not to end up. It begs the question ‘What type of person do you want to be? What type of parent? What do you live for?’. A wonderful and alluring film, the dynamic storytelling and unusual structure combined with Drive fueled my interest in film as a career.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhb2F5df4Vg]
Indiana Jones Trilogy (1981-1989)
Dir: Steven Spielberg
So you could say my mum was awesome, because she was also the person that presented me Indiana Jones…One of the few trilogies that contend with The Lord of the Rings as being one of the best trilogies of all time, and just like Lord of the Rings I can watch it over and over without weariness. I specifically remember dressing up as Indiana Jones and trying to swing off light bulbs using my belt. I broke almost all of them of course. It was simple why I loved it, It was entertaining and I loved the main character. I’m 17 now and still what I truly want is to go off on adventures in random deserts and jungles. The Indiana Jones character was a childhood hero to me, I’ve always wanted to be just like him because of his charisma and will to do what was right, even if it meant no personal reward.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ba2eMxx0oHs]
Don’t be silly there was never a 4th one.